Midland soldiers chased Taliban drugs tractor across Afghan desert

The Warrior tank similar to the one used by the soldiers to chase down a tractor carrying a large amount of drugs

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Midland soldiers have told how they led a cross-desert chase to stop a drug smuggling tractor driver in their tracks in Afghanistan.

Members of A Company of 3rd Battalion The Mercian Regiment were called in by Afghan police who suspected the farm vehicle carrying Taliban-funding drugs.

The soldiers chased the tractor down over 10 miles before carrying out a search which uncovered sacks of hashish and weapons.

Private Gavin Davies, who found the stash, said: “I got into the trailer and started rooting around when I discovered sack upon sack of drugs – the amount was incredible, like something out of a film.”

Private Callum Noone took the wheel of the Warrior tank used in the chase.

“It was one of the most exciting things we have done since we arrived here in September,’’ he said.

“We left our base at Lashkar Gah Durai and drove across country to catch the tractor, which was about 10 miles away. It took about 15 or 20 minutes to reach him.”

Afghan police forces have been clamping down on drug supply lines in a bid to starve the Taliban of a key funding source.

And while British forces stationed in the country do not actively target the drug trade, the special request from local police was acted on.

Captain Rich Morgan-Evans, A Company’s battle captain, said: “As soon as we informed the Afghan police what we had found they immediately deployed a senior officer to arrest the individual and confiscate the drugs.

“They realise the damage that the sale of drugs does to security in Helmand and the police have been clamping down on it across the province.

“Attacking the drugs trade is something the Afghan police are really keen to show that they are doing.

“They used to have a bad reputation but are fighting hard to change that perception. This find should really help the way the population looks at them.”

The Mercians deployed to Afghanistan last August for the final time before an Army shake up sees the regiment disbanded.